ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines ? Two soldiers were killed in an ambush in the southern island province of Basilan on Saturday evening, military and police officials said.

The soldiers were outside their camp in Tipo-Tipo town, buying supplies, when they were attacked at around 8:40 p.m., said Lieutenant Esteffani Cacho, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command.

The slain soldiers were identified as Technical Sergeant Luciano Abcede and Private First Class Danny Salian. The identities of the attackers were not immediately known, but Basilan is a known bailiwick of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf.

?They were buying some cigarettes in a store just near the school when an undetermined number of armed persons approached them and started shooting,? said Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, Basilan police chief.

Abcede and Salian were assigned with the 55th Engineering Battalion, which was doing rehabilitation work in Tipo-Tipo.